MEI QING CHOY WITH CUCUMBER “NOODLE” SALAD

adapted from zinrunner.com

2 Seedless Cucumbers
1 Mei Qing Choy
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 Tbls. maple syrup
juice of 1/2 lime
3 Tbls. of water
1/2 tsp. garlic-chili paste
1/2 tsp. sea salt
chopped cilantro and chopped/crushed peanuts to garnish

In a small mixing bowl combine peanut butter, maple syrup, lime juice, sea salt, water and chili paste. Chill in refrigerator while you prepare the “noodles”. Chop mei qing choy into thin slivers. Cut cucumbers in half lengthwise. Using a vegetable peeler, shave off strips or “noodles” of cucumbers, onto a kitchen towel. Pat and squeeze as much liquid out of the cucumber noodles as possible, and combine with choy in a large bowl. Add peanut sauce, a bit at a time, to cucumber noodles and mei qing (use more or less peanut sauce to taste). Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro and chopped peanuts.